Anasay

Öz

Since the proclamation of the republic, the position of religion and religious

education has been one of the most discussed issues in Turkey. In parallel

with the religion polices of the governments different practices have been observed

about religious education. It can be inarguable stated that compulsory

variability of Turkish Republic influenced this situation as well as world political

conjuncture. Proclamation of the republic and the law on unification of education

accepted on 3 March 1924 right after, have to be accepted as a milestone

about religious education. After this statute which aimed to abolish dualism in

education and to shut down madrasahs, imam hatip high schools were opened to

fill deficiency of religious education. However, the position of imam hatip high

schools in Turkish national education system has been a matter of opinion. Free

motion of these schools were restricted between 1923 and 1946 years in which

republican people’s party was the only effective power in Turkey. In this period

secular state and therefore secure education concept was adopted. Seeing these

schools as a continuation of madrasahs inarguable influenced this situation. As

a result of this these schools were shut down because of fewness of student in

1930-1931 education year. This situation continued till 1949 and in 1949 these

schools were reopened as imam hatip courses. In this study, mild changings

occurred in religious education policy of Republican people’s party as an obligation

of bringing democracy process and reflections of these especially in

parliament reports wiil be discussed. In this context reopening issue of imam

hatip high schools will be discussed in historicity.